Jammu, Minister for Education, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Thursday informed the House that the Government has constituted a Committee for streamlining the functioning and improving academic standards of Government Schools of J&K.

The Minister also announced constitution of a Task Force to make recommendations in infrastructure gaps in educational institutions, the introduction of new subjects and regularization of staff at various levels and filling up of vacant posts and referral of vacancies to the recruiting agencies.

The Minister said the decision to constitute these official panels has been taken in response to the unanimous concern expressed by the Leader of Opposition Omar Abdullah and Legislators, during the discussion on Demand for Grants of the Education Department, regarding augmenting infrastructure, improving results and overall literacy rate in the state.

The Minister said that the Official Panel regarding streamlining the functioning of the government schools to improve the results and the overall literacy rate will be headed by Advisor to Chief Minister, Prof Amitabh Mattoo with Secretary to Government, School Education Department as Member Secretary and Director, School Education, Jammu and Kashmir as Members.

He said the Committee will suggest measures to improve results of the government schools and the overall literacy rate in the State. He further said that the Committee will submit its report to the Government within a period of two months and it will be serviced by School Education Department.

Altaf Bukhari said the government has also decided to constitute a Task Force in the School Education Department under the Chairmanship of Minister of State for Education. He said the State Project Director, SSA, Director School Education Kashmir, Director School Education Jammu, State Project Director RMSA, Additional Secretary (A), School Education and Additional Secretary (M), School Education will be the members of the Task Force and Joint Director (P), School Education will be the Member Secretary.

He said the Task Force will make recommendations regarding infrastructure gaps in educational institutions, the introduction of new subjects, and regularization of staff at various levels and filling up of vacant posts and referral of vacancies to recruiting agencies.

The Minister further said that the Task Force will complete the exercise in consultation with the Legislators within a period of one month and submit its recommendations to the Minister for Education for his perusal and further instructions.